AROUND THE LEAGUE.

Marlins win

party waits

That's not quite right. With an 8-4 victory, the surprising Marlins completed a sweep of their crucial three-game series against Philadelphia to clinch a tie for the NL wild card and eliminate the Phillies.

One more victory and the Marlins will earn their first playoff berth since winning the 1997 World Series.

The unaccustomed pressure of a playoff race hasn't fazed the young Marlins, who've won four games in a row to climb a season-high 19 above .500.

"It's no time to get scared," said Juan Pierre, who went 2-for-2 to reach 200 hits. "I think our team is nervous but not scared. That's why we're playing as well as we are."

The Phillies led the wild-card standings Saturday but have lost five in a row since. They finished 6-13 against Florida this year and lost their final seven games in Miami.

"There are no excuses," manager Larry Bowa said. "They beat us all year."

Piazza's on first

Mike Piazza played first base for the first time as a member of the Mets when he moved from behind the plate in the ninth inning of New York's home loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

Piazza was tested immediately, catching a line drive off the bat of pinch-hitter Carlos Rivera. He also made the last putout, a grounder to third that Ty Wigginton fielded before throwing to first.

Mike Glavine started at first base, playing for the first time in the majors alongside brother Tom, the starting pitcher. Tony Clark had taken over at first in the sixth.

Also Thursday, Hall of Famer Bob Murphy broadcast his final game with the Mets. Murphy has called Mets games since the team's inception in 1962.

THURSDAY'S GAMES

RESULTS, SYNOPSIS

Arizona 8 at Colorado 7

W: Villarreal (10-7)

L: Fuentes (3-3)

S: Mantei (28)

Quinton McCracken hit a run-scoring single up the middle in the ninth inning to give Arizona the victory. The crowd of 23,056 left the Rockies' home attendance at 2,334,085, its lowest ever.

Philadelphia 4 at Florida 8

W: Penny (14-10)

L: Wolf (16-10)

Juan Encarnacion had a homer and four RBIs and Brad Penny pitched eight innings for the Marlins, who won for the 14th time in 16 home games. Philadelphia's Jim Thome hit his 45th homer.

Pittsburgh 3 at N.Y. Mets 1

W: Torres (7-5)

L: Roberts (0-3)

S: Tavarez (10)

Pinch-hitter Abraham Nunez hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the go-ahead run for Pittsburgh, and Salomon Torres pitched into the seventh inning. Jason Kendall had two RBI singles for the Pirates.

Milwaukee 1 at Houston 6

W: Redding (10-14)

L: Davis (3-1)

The Brewers, who scored on Richie Sexson's 43rd home run, haven't won a season series from the Astros since 1997. Houston's Craig Biggio extended his NL record for leadoff homers to 34.

Los Angeles 1 at San Diego 6

W: Lawrence (10-15)

L: Nomo (16-13)

Brian Lawrence pitched seven shutout innings as the Padres ousted the Dodgers from wild-card contention. The Dodgers have missed the playoffs every year since 1996.